The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-05

The Mississippi Bar Association con-
vened in this city on the night of the Sd
inst, in the Federal Court room, and in
the absence of the President, Hon. A. NJ
Clayton, Col. w. L. Nugent, Vice Presi-
dent, by request, presided in his stead
The following was the programme of the
evening:
l. Reading Minutes OF last meeting.
2. Annual Address
3. Report of Treasurer.
l. Report of Executive Committee.
5. Election of Members.
6. Reports of Standing Committees.
z. Reports of Special Committees.
8. Election of Officers and Appointment
of Standing Committees.
9. Paper by Hon. A. NJ. Clayton
"Sketch of Jurisprudence OF Mississippi
10. Paper by Prof. Edward Mayes-"A
Glance at the Fountains of our Land
Titles"
IL. Miscellaneous Business.
The following officers were elected for
the ensuing year w. L. Nugent, Presi-
dent Baxter Mcfarland, LIST V. P; r. H
Thompson, I'd V. P; w. g. Yerger, Sd V
P; G. H. Alexander, Secretary Walter
Trotter. Treasurer.
The following Executive Committee was
appointed r. o. Reynolds, w. II. Fitz-
Gerald, J. b. Chrisman, Marye Dabney
w. A. Percy, I. II. Somerville.
The following new members were elected
Chas. E. Hooker, A. G. McNair, r. B.
Campbell, H. Peyton, J. II. Jayne, w. D.
Witherstoon, d. L. Sweatman and j. B
Greaves.
The following resolution, offered by
Hon. l.. Brame, was unanimously adopted
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
Association that the condition and wants
of the country are such as to require a
national bankruptcy law, and the Associa-
ton favors the early enactment of such a
law.
Hon. s. S. Calhoon suggested that the
appropriate CON mittee inquire into the re-
port as to the question of the abolition OF
the distinction between law and equity.
On motion, the meeting adjourned sub
ject to the call OF the Executive Commit
tee, who were authorized to name the time
and place of the next annual meeting.
The following Judge Clayton's address,
which was read by the Vice-President
ANNUAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT.
Gentlemen Of the Bar Association:
take this, the first opportunity which
has occurred, to return you my sincere
acknowledgements for the high compli-
ment conferred by your selection of me as
your presiding officer. To be honored by
honorable men is distinction always of
high character, and no more honorable
body is to be found in any society, than
the members of the Bar.
You have formed this Association to
improve its members as individuals and
as a body, and to elevate the profession to
its highest attainable point. 1t is noble
object and one which will no doubt be
carried out.
The profession in every age has fur
nished examples OF the greatest genius
and the highest culture, of which a notable
instance is found in the fact that a very
interesting controversy is now in progress,
to determine whether the works of the
mightiest genius OF all time, are really the
works of Shakespeare, whose name they
bear, or of Sir Francis Bacon, who explored
the limits of all the learning of his time,
and whose name, although Swallowed by
one great fault, stands nut in the first and
foremost rank of intellectual greatness and
juridical strength.
The science itself of Law, devoted as it is
to all that men hold dear-to the protec-
erty and reputation-has always and mus.
always number among its followers the
highest types of moral and intellectual ca
pacity. Although the mystery of the Iaao"
has been the fruitful source of criticism in
all ages, the law itself is tor the most part
plain and unambiguous. But the infinite
diversity of human transactions and inter
ests makes its application to the numerous
and changing vicissitudes OF life often
difficult tasL-so difficult indeed as to
.ender the minds of the greatest breadth
md most profound insight its indispensa-
Die ministers in every age. In proportion
Is civilization advances, the law expands,
ind embraces a greater variety of objects,
md leaves nothing unprotected; it becomes
tilted ito inspect mite or comprehend the
and finds nothing too small or
90 great for its care. 1t Is coevaI with
he earliest formation of society and lasts
IS long as society itself does. We cannot
onceive of society without it.
Cromwell said she put the Parliament
n his breeches pocket, and the King in his
but he let the Judiciary alone. |
even his stern despotism could not be |
without seeming administra- |
ion of the Law.
We have all heard that the attribute of |
is conceded to the Pope in /
biological matters, by the Catholics. Per-
APPS no one believes it, but it is done,
ecause it is necessary to have some final
ONT, some resting place in all contro-
ersies. A similar concession is made in
very civilized State to the ultimate and
upreme Arbiters of the Law. Their decis-
,ns are not only final, but the rule is
dopted that they are infallible. They
Omit of no further question. We may
sel confident that particular decision is
rong, but we admit that it is right, we
1cccumb to the theory that those who
it are infallible, because In no
Their way can the authority of the govern
tent be upheld. Hence the imperious
ecessity, that the advocates who argue,
nd the Judges who decide, should possess
he most elevated moral and intellectual
uallties of our nature, heightened and
approved by all the attachments which
udy can compass A lawyers education
never completed-there is always some
ling beyond to be mastered.
The vast influence of law on human af-
Iirs is no where more forcibly illustrated
ian in the Roman Civil Law. Not only
ID its roots strike deep into the laws
herever the Roman army went, but the
to the new world, wherever their con-
tests or power extended. This embraced
of South America and much of North {
merica. It was once doubted whether I
q Spanish Law ever had any force or au- /
orify in this State, but it Is now settled !
at it never had any except by comfy.
here was an acrimonious dispute, whether !
e Spanish North Boundary was the mouth ,
Ynxoo River mr. the 3Isf uaraflel |